Phl League of Cities support cityhood in 21 municipalities

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, March 22, 2011-The League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) expressed support for the conversion into cities of 21 municipalities including Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija that has complied with the requirements set by the Constitution and the Local Government Code to include Cabuyao and San Pedro in Laguna; Cainta, Taytay, and Binangonan in Rizal; Bacoor, Gen. Trias, Imus, Carmona and Silang in Cavite; Calaca, Sto. Tomas, Bauan and Nasugbu in Batangas; Mauban in Quezon; Marilao, Sta. Maria and Norzagaray in Bulacan; and Limay in Bataan.

The other municipalities like Imus, Bacoor and Cabuyao have pending cityhood applications in Congress, but the 18 others are still waiting for their congressmen to file cityhood bills on their behalf. 

LCP president and San Fernando City, Pampanga Mayor Oscar Rodriguez said these towns have qualified for cityhood based on the standards set by law, saying that under the June 30, 2007 Local Government Code, as amended by Republic Act 9009, a municipality may be converted into a component city only if it meets two of three requirements.

Rodriguez said that conversion to cityhood should passed the locally generated average annual income of P100 million for the last two consecutive years and contiguous territory of at least 100 square kilometers or a population of not less than 150,000 inhabitants; however, he said that his group will be firm in opposing the conversion into cities of 16 other municipalities recently granted cityhood by the Supreme Court.

“The LCP opposed Batac, Ilocos Norte; Tabuk, Kalinga; Tayabas, Quezon; Baybay, Leyte; Catbalogan, Samar; Borongan, Eastern Samar; Guihulngan, Negros Oriental; Bogo, Naga, and Carcar in Cebu; Tandag, Surigao del Sur; Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte; El Salvador, Misamis Oriental; Mati, Davao Oriental; Bayugan, Agusan del Sur; and Lamitan, Basilan because these municipalities circumvented the requirements set by law,” he said.

Rodriguez cited the El Salvador town which has an annual income of only P17 million, a total land area of only 87 square kilometers and a population of only 41,905 which did not meet the requirements. (Jason de Asis)